College football: Meyer simply not in picture for Gators

Friday

Dec 30, 2011 at 12:01 AMDec 30, 2011 at 12:14 PM

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Urban Meyer is not here. Not on the Ohio State sideline yet. No longer, obviously, on the Florida sideline. When the Gator Bowl is played on Monday, Meyer won't even be in town. But his shadow will be hard to escape.

Bill Rabinowitz, The Columbus Dispatch

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Urban Meyer is not here. Not on the Ohio State sideline yet. No longer, obviously, on the Florida sideline.

When the Gator Bowl is played on Monday, Meyer won't even be in town. But his shadow will be hard to escape.

Ohio State players know that as soon as the game ends, they will become Meyer's to mold.

Florida players have had a year to adjust to his absence. Many Gators fans have been angered by Meyer's return to coaching not even 12 months after he stepped down - for the second time - citing health and family reasons.

They feel betrayed by his change of heart. They cast much of the blame for this year's 6-6 season on his departure. Florida's only victories after September came against Furman - and the Paladins of the Football Championship Subdivision threw quite a scare into the Gators - and Vanderbilt.

Florida's two national championships under Meyer seem long ago.

But Florida's players don't seem to share their fans' vitriol.

"Everybody wants us to be pumped up about the Urban Meyer thing," sophomore guard Jon Halapio said. "(But to us), he's just long gone. We're moving forward as a football team."

Like almost all of Florida's players, Halapio was recruited by Meyer. Although he might have expected to play his entire career for him, Halapio didn't take Meyer's exit and subsequent reemergence at Ohio State personally.

"I don't feel betrayed," he said. "I think the fans feel that way because of our record. Obviously, if we were undefeated, the fans wouldn't feel that way."

Many of the players Meyer recruited for the current Gators haven't panned out as anticipated. Quarterback John Brantley has struggled as Tim Tebow's successor. The defense is ranked ninth nationally in yards allowed, but it has forced few turnovers and hasn't been able to overcome a sluggish offense. In Florida's six losses, its offense has scored a total of five touchdowns.

Coach Will Muschamp has a defensive background. Meyer's expertise is offense. Florida fans are stunned by the dysfunction the Gators have experienced without Meyer.

The problems extended beyond the playing field. Redshirt junior defensive tackle Omar Hunter agreed with defensive coordinator Dan Quinn's contention that the Gators were a "fractured" team when he arrived a year ago after Meyer's departure.

"Oh, definitely," Hunter said. "This team was very divided. The younger guys weren't here when we won a national championship back in my freshman year. They didn't get to be around (Brandon) Spikes and Tebow and (Carlos) Dunlap."

Those players were leaders, and the void in their absence became exposed this year.

Fans being fans, those who follow the Gators largely blamed Meyer for the current team's shortcomings. But Florida's players don't.

"Coach Meyer is a good coach," linebacker Jon Bostic said. "I was here with him for two years. He's a good guy. We wish him well. No hard feelings."

As for Ohio State under Meyer, Bostic said, "They're in good hands."

brabinowitz@dispatch.com

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